Ground clamp



NOV. 3p l1931. E J NOBLE 1,830,331

GROUND CLAMP Filed Sept. 2l, 1928 Patented Nov.. 3, 1931 UNITED STATESPATENT ori-Ica J'. NOBLE, OF NEW LONDON, OONNEUIICUT, .LSBIGNOR BYDIRECT AND IEBNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 GILLETTE-VIBBER COMPANY, INCORPORATED,OF N'EW LONDON, 00N NECTICU T, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT GROUND CLAMPApplication ylezl September 21, 1988. Serial No. 307,488.

My invention relates to`an improvement in a groundclamp and the noveltyconsists in the adaptation and arrangement of parts as will be morefully hereinafter pointed out.` 5 There are many forms of ground clampson the market and many patented improvements have been made in groundclamps but none of these provide a means of securing a wire `mounted ina conduit to a ground whereby 1 10 there is no open wire connectionbetween the conduit and the ground and which also furnish an exposed endof the grounded wire so that it can be tested to determine if it isactually grounded without ydisturbing 'the 15 ground connection.

My device does fulll these requirements and furnishes a ground clamp inwhich a wire carried in a conduit is secured by a ground clamp to aground so that the wire is not exposed except at its very end where itis suciently exposed to permit of the testing of the complete ground atany time without disturbing the clamp or connections.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a p plan view of my device showingthe complete grounding of a wire carried in a conduit.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the clamp member without the fasteningmeans in the Hat condition before it is placed upon a pipe to begrounded.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of Figure 2 on the line 3 3.

Figure 4 is a side view of Figure 1 showing the wire in dotted outline.

In the drawings 5 is a ground pipe such as an ordinarywater pipe whichis ordinarily 4used for the purpose of grounding a wire. 6 is aclampmember having holes 7 cut therein adapted to receive screws 8 which areadapted to be locked in the desired holes 7 by means of nuts 9 in theusual Well known manner. A cylindrical housingplO is made integral withthe clamp member 6 which terminates in a cylindrical or curved seatmember 11 and the seat member 11 terminates in an opening 12. i. Araised portion 13 is punched out of the housing 10 and a corru gatedconduit 14 of usual flexible construction is adapted to be screwed intothe housing-10 by the conduit 14 is rigidly secured in a locked positionin the housing 10. A wire 16 carried by the conduit 14 passes throughthe vhousing 10 and seats in the grooved seat member 11 and comes outthrough the openng 12 exposmg grounded end 17 of the wire It will bereadily understood that the clamp member 6 is large enough and hassufficient sets of holes 7 to permit of its being secured to anydesirable water pipe or other suitable ground and with the conduit 14readily secured in the housing 10 and the wire 16 seated in the curvedseat. 11 with the end 17 exposed through the opening 12 and the screwsand nuts 9 secured through the desired sets of holes 7 so aste rigidlyclamp the clamp 6 on the desired ground 5.

' My construction not only permits of the securing of the clamp 6 tovarying sizes of ground 5 but also insures the fixed contact of the wire16 with the round 5 and furnishes an exposed end 17 cfg the wire 16 sothat its perfect grounding can be readily tested at any time Withoutdisturbing the clamp 6.

Many variations may be made in my construction without departing fromthe spirit and intent of the invention.

1 claim:

1. A one piece ground clamp comprising a iexible metal strap having ateach end near the edge, correspondingly spaced perforations, and havingat one end portion a 1ongitudinally extending relatively largedepression merging into a ,further extending I tions and having at oneend .portion a 1ongitudinally extending relativelylarge depressionmerglng into a further extending substantially reduced depression,fastening means in said perforations and means in said relatively largedepression for retaining a metallic duct therein.

4. The structure of claim 1 in combination with a grounded conductor anda metallic` duct containing a wire to be grounded, in which the strap isbent about the grounded conductor with the ends overlapping andenclosing the end of the said wire in the reduced depression and the endof the duct in the relatively large depression, means or re taining ittherein and fastening means in said perforations.

5,. A one piece ground clamp comprising a exible metal strap having ateach end near theedge,` correspondingly spaced perorations and havlng atone end portion a longituV inally extending relatively large depressionmerging into a further extending substantially reduced depressionterminating in an opening.

6. The structure of claim 5 in combination with a grounded conductor anda metallic duct containing a`wire to be: grounded, in which the strap isbent about the grounded conductor with the ends overlapping andenclosing the end of the said wire in the reduced depression with its`end exposedV and the end of the duct in therelatively large depressionand vfastening means insaid perforations. l

In testimony whereof ax my signature.

. EDWARD J. NOBLE.

l 1,sso,ss1

